Monday, January 7, 2013

Sometimes there's something that sneaks up on you and takes you by storm. It could be a book. It could be a movie.

Today, for me, is a TV Show.

I put Dance Academy on my Netflix instant cue on a whim. I like dancing, and I like music. I also like teen drama. So, I would like this... maybe... sometime in the future.

It was a literal blind choosing that had me watching this after I finished the show I was working on (Angel... I'll talk about that later, though).

The premise of this Australian show is the characters are students at a private classical dance school in Sydney.

There are a couple of things that make me love this show.

One: Compelling characters. I love Abigail (dark haired girl), the misunderstood, cool and aloof girl with a heart of gold and just wants to be a principle dancer at a ballet company. I also really love Kat (blonde girl), the free spirit who just can't get her life together. And you have to love Sammy (boy on the right). He is so cute. But really, they are each different and flawed, and I love watching them interact.

Two: Suspense. The night before last, I was watching this before I went to bed. I told myself I would watch one more episode. Just one more. And then, the end of the episode came and something crazy happened. Some *gasp* moment where my heart stops and I just can't leave it at that. I need to see more. I need to know what's going to happen next.

Three: Not over-the-top plots, but real situations where you feel for the characters. They all have so many hardships to overcome, and despite the fact that all the characters are so different, the each have specific issues they must face. Although sometimes I roll my eyes at their relationship spur-of-the-moment decisions, it as a whole is still good.

Four: Beautiful dancing. What can I say? I'm a sucker for it. Bonus: It makes me want to get up and dance. And to work on being as flexible as these kids. Holy cow! I wish I could make myself move the way they can.

All of these things can be taken to writing. Well, maybe not the dancing. But everything else? That's just good writing. I sometimes need to remind myself that good writing can be found everywhere.

How about you guys? Anything recently taken you by surprise? Care to share?

Edit later that day:
So this stupid show made me break down and cry at work. Stupid show.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Man, it's going to be really hard for me to get used to writing that now. 2013. Two. Zero. One. Three.

Hey! Fun fact: This is the first year in 25 YEARS (i.e., since the year I was born: 1987) that there are four different digits in the year. Go figure.

Anyway, it's that time of year when I'm going to talk about my goals for 2013. Because I'm tired of every year not getting much done. And this year, things are going to be different. I just know it.

Best. Year. Ever.

First off, I'm going to be a better blogger

I'm tired of this intermittent crap that I've been doing lately. And I want to get back into it. So, that's what I'm going to do.

You can expect three blogs a week from me, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. And once a month, I'll actually get to doing a vlog for you all. I don't know if you'll enjoy them, but there you go. The first vlog will be next week.

Also, Wednesdays will be my check-in days to tell you how I'm doing with my writing. Because, guess what? That's one of my goals too.

Write every day

EVERY. DAY. I'm not really into the specifics of exactly how much I'm going to write. At least 500 words a day. Not a lot, I know, but there are just some days that I don't have a ton of time. And to squeeze in 500 will be good. But on other days, I'm obviously looking to be getting more. On days off? More.

Secondly, finish my WIP STAR RUBY
I have been working on this specific story now for more than two years. It's about time I get it done. This year, I'm looking to be completely done with it. That will require finishing my current draft, editing my current draft, sending it out to my lovely critique partners, getting it back and making edits and then maybe some other readers and edits as well.

So that will mean by the end of next December, I will be working on a query letter and readying it for sending it out. There is no reason, NO REASON, that this should not be happening.

Get healthy
This doesn't really have to do with writing or this blog specifically, but it's something that I'm putting out there. I've struggled with my weight and being healthy for my entire life. So this year? I'm going to change that. I won't be updating anything about that on this blog, but at my tumblr blog "My Healthy 2013" for anyone who wants to check it out. I'll be doing a variety of things each week, as well as updating on my progress.

Read more

It doesn't matter to me if it's blogs, books or articles. I want to be reading more than I did last year. Easy as that.

So that's it. All that I want to do this year spelled out for all of you. Can you relate to any of my New Year's Resolutions? Think I'll be able to keep them? What are your goals for the year? Let me know in the comments!

About the author

Brenna Braaten is a writer who aspires to be a full-time author. She is a copy editor and designer at a newspaper in Montana and does a lot of traveling on the weekends. She's quite glad you've stopped by.